Full Lecture Transcript (Cleaned)
Sajda al-Shukr — 0:13
Sajda al-Shukr is definitively Sunnah. It is authentically established in many narrations:
- When good news came to the Prophet (SAW), he would immediately fall into sajda — shukran lillah
- Abu Bakr (RA) performed sajda al-shukr when he heard of the death of Musaylama al-Kadhdhab
- Ka'b ibn Malik — one of the three left behind in Tabuk — fell into sajda immediately upon hearing the Quranic revelation forgiving him
- In the hadith of Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf (Musnad Ahmad): We were walking with the Prophet (SAW) when he suddenly turned, faced the Qibla, and fell into sajda for a long time. He then stood and said: Jibreel just came to me and told me that whoever sends salawat upon me, Allah sends salawat upon him — so I fell into sajda in thanks to Allah.
Does Sajda al-Shukr Require Wudu?
The majority of the four madhabs say yes — it has the rulings of salah, requiring wudu, facing qibla, and covering the awra.
However, Ibn Taymiyya, Ibn al-Qayyim, Ibn Hazm, and many contemporary scholars say no — it is not salah, and:
- In all the narrations, neither the Prophet (SAW) nor the Companions are reported to have stopped to make wudu before sajda al-shukr
- The purpose is to humble yourself before Allah in the moment, when your emotions are at their peak — by the time you've made wudu, that moment has passed
- Just as you can say SubhanAllah without wudu, you can perform sajda al-shukr without wudu
Salat al-Shukr (Two Rak'at of Gratitude)
A hadith in Ibn Majah reports: when the Prophet (SAW) was told of the death of Abu Jahl (at Badr), he prayed two rak'at in thanks to Allah. Ibn Majah has a chapter title on Salat al-Shukr, and this hadith is considered at least hasan by some scholars (though slightly weak according to others including al-Albani).
Furthermore, at the conquest of Makkah, the Prophet (SAW) prayed eight rak'at inside the Ka'ba — Ibn Hajar states this is evidence for Salat al-Shukr. Al-Marwazi (3rd-century scholar) explicitly called this Salat al-Shukr.
The ruling: even if you do not consider the hadith authentic, the general texts of Quran and Sunnah say: when good things happen, thank Allah. If someone wants to fast, give sadaqa, or pray two rak'at — all of these are good deeds in response to good news.
Yasir Qadhi's view: it is not bid'ah to pray two rak'at when good news comes. The general principle of thanking Allah through any good deed is established. What would be incorrect is to claim this is Sunnah al-mu'akkadah (highly emphasized Sunnah) without clear evidence.
Salat al-Tawba (Prayer of Repentance)
Salat al-Tawba is definitively Sunnah. The hadith in Sunan Abu Dawud (narrated by Abu Bakr al-Siddiq) is clear:
No Muslim commits a sin, then makes wudu properly, stands up, and prays two rak'at, then asks Allah for forgiveness — except that Allah forgives that sin.
Abu Bakr (RA) then recited: Those who, when they commit a sin or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness — and who forgives sins except Allah? (Surah Aal Imran 135).
Salat al-Tawba requires full wudu, facing the qibla, covering the awra — it is a proper salah.